Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
Article By: Kelly Mack, Farm Loan Officer at USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA Farm Service Agency's Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment, and storage and handling trucks.
The low-interest funds can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Eligible commodities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, floriculture, hops, maple sap, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns, and cold storage facilities for eligible commodities.
Loans up to $100,000 may be secured by a promissory note/security agreement and loans above $100,000 will require additional security. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to consider all potential environmental impacts for federally funded projects before the project is approved.
Producers do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. There are specific agency loan eligibility requirements that will need to be met. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including conventional operations, small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.
To learn more about FSFLs and how these loans can help with your storage or equipment needs, contact your local FSA county office: Questions? Find Your Local Service Center | Farmers.gov
Kelly Mack is a farm loan officer with the USDA Farm Service Agency, located at the Jackson County FSA Office in Black River Falls, WI. She specializes in the implementation of the Farm Storage Facility Loan program in the counties of Pierce, Pepin, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Juneau, Monroe, Vernon, Richland, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette. Kelly also assists with direct loans, microloans and youth loans. With 22 years of experience in many aspects of the benefits available through the Farm Service Agency, Kelly is passionate and enthusiast about agriculture and looks forward to assisting and enhancing our communities with available loan programs. Contact Kelly at kelly.mack@usda.gov or 715-284-4515 X104.
